Electric hair curler



June l0, 1930. B. F. osTRowsKl l 1,762,792

ELECTRIC HAIR CURLR Filed June 8, 1929 JIYVENTOR.

BENJAMIN F. osTRowsm.

.ws Arron/ver Patented June 10, 1930 PATENT QFFICE BENJAMIN F. OSTROWSKI, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA ELECTRIC HAIR CURLER Application led June 8, 1929.

My invention relates to improvements in electric hair curling devices and particularly to the type of curler used in making the so called paper curls wherein electrical heating units are enclosed Within recesses formed in the backs of the jaws of a pair of curler tongs and connected to a source of electrical energy by flexible conductors extending longitudinally through the handle 1f? portions of the tongs for heating the jaws.

The primary object is to provide improved electrically heated tongs for curling hair.

Another object is to provide an improved electric curler for making paper curls and the like.

A further object is to provide an improved device of the character described wherein heating elements are enclosed within recesses formed in the backs of a pair of 2") matching jaws movable into proximate relation to apply heat and pressure upon locks of hair to be curled.

Another object is to provide an improved v device of the character described wherein 1) electrical conductors are connected through openings formed in the handle portions and connected to heatinv units mounted within the jaw portions ci the tongs without interfering with the normal operation of the 3U tongs and without material-ly interfering with the manipulation ot the tongs by an operator. j

A still further object is to provide an improved construction which can be economin cally manufactured and which is simple and efficient in operation. i

I accomplish these and other ob'eets by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the specification and drawings, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a broken elevation of my improved electric hair curling tongs;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, drawn upon a larger scale and partly broken away and shown in longitudinal section;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the back of a jaw portion; and

Serial No. 369,381.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a jaw portion.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate a pair of tong members pivotally connected in crossing relation as 5 at 2. The tong members are provided with jaw portions 3, preferably substantially circular in form and having adjacent faces [i movable into proximate matching relation. Annular recesses 6 are formed in the backs 6o of the jaw portions 3, said recesses forming central posts 7 tapped as at 8 to receive screws 9 and detachable securing plates 11 upon the backs of the jaws. The recesses 6 are lined with suitable insulating material 12 and a disc 13 of insulating material is secured between each plate l1 and its jaw portion 3, said disc 13 extending over the recess 6.

The tong members lare provided with suitable handle portions 14 secured thereto and having longitudinal openings 16 extending froin the ends of the handle portions through said handle portions and tong members and opening at points adjacent the pivot 2. Flexible electrical conductor cables 17 are extended through the openings 16, said cables each having a pair of conductors insulated from each other and separated to forni terminal portions 18 extending S0 into the adjacent jaw recess 6 to be connected to the ends ot a suitable electrical heating unit 19 mounted within said recess.

The heating unit 19 may be of any suitable structure shaped to t within the back oit' the 85 recess 6 and covered by an insulating partition 21 provided with conductors 22 adapted to receive theterminals of the unit A19 and the terminals 1S of the conductor cable. In applying the cables 17, the terminal ends 18 90 are'carried from the opening 16 of one handle portion to the recess in the back of the jaw portion 3 of the opposite tong member 1 whereby said cables and terminal .ends may be extended substantially straight to the corresponding heating unit 19 without crossing at the pivot 2 of the tongs. The plates 11 have notches 23 formed in the edges adjacent the handle portions 16 to admit the terminal ji-crtions 1S into the recess 6 for 100 Cil connection to the conductors The opposite ends of the conductor cables 17 are arranged to be connected in any suitable manner, not shown, to a source ot' electrical energy.

In operation, electric current flowing through the heating units 19 cause the jaw portions 3 of the tongs to be heated. The heated jaws are then operated to curl locks of hair in the ordinary manner, the heated t'aces being pressed together upon the hair to be curled by pressing the handles together in the usual way. The units 19 are regulated in any suitable manner to provide a substantially uniform heat otl the desired degree whereby the tongs may be used continuously for long periods without the usual delay of reheating the jaws trom an external source of heat. The flexible conductors extending troni the. handles across the pivot point to the opposite jaw portion 3, permit the jaws to be spread to receive the hair to be curled, and to be closed and pressed with the desired pressure upon the hair while subject-ing it to heat. The plates 11 eli'ectively enclose the heating elements and terminals within the recesses G, and the single securing screw 9, by which each plate is mounted, affords a simple means tor assembling the device and facilitates the inspection or repair of the contacts and heating units.

Applicant is aware that curling tongs olf the general type disclosed are well known, and7 therefore7 no claim is made to the tongs apart from the specific improvements by which said tongs are arranged to be electrically heated.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric hair curler comprising a pair ot tongs provided with jaw portions having adjacent faces movable into proximate matching relation and having annular recesses 'formed in the backs of the jaw portions and forming central posts within the. recesses; handle portions connected to the jaw portions; heating units mounted within the recesses; a cover plate mounted upon the back ot each jaw portion, said plates having notches formed therein adjacent the handle portions ot' the tongs; ay screw applied through each plate and threaded into the central posts ot the jaw to detachably secure the plates; and liexible electrical conductors connected to the heating units through the handles and extending into the recesses through the notches in the cover plates to connect said units to a source of electrical energy for heating the jaws.

2. An electric hair curler comprising a pair of tongs provided with jaw portions having adjacent faces movable into proximate matching relation and having annular recesses formed in the backs ot the jaw portions and forming central posts within the recesses; handle portions connected to the jaw portions and having openings extending longitudinally through the handle portions and opening outwardly immediately back of the pivot point of the tongs; heating elements mounted within the recesses; plates detachably secured upon the backs oi the jaws and enclosing the heating units within the recesses, said plates having notches formed in the edges adjacent the handle portions; and flexible electrical conductors extending through the openings in the handle portions and connected to the heating units through the. notches in the cover plates to connect said units to a source of electrical energy for heating the jaws.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my signature.

BENJAMIN F. OSTROVSKI. 

